8 Celebrities Who Almost Nabbed That Iconic Movie Role

For every famous movie role, there's a long list of actors who wanted it—and a longer list of actors who said no. Almost all of Hollywood's biggest stars have wound up kicking themselves after passing on a part that ended up becoming an iconic part of movie history. Check out just a few.

1. Christina Applegate as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde

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Christina Applegate once got sent a script for a movie called Legally Blonde, in which she'd play a dumb blonde who proves herself at Harvard Law School. She had just finished playing another dumb blonde on Married With Children and didn't want to get typecast, so she didn't go for the part. "What a stupid move that was, right?" she told Entertainment Tonight. The role went to Reese Witherspoon, and the rest is history.

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2. Jennifer Lawrence as Bella Swan in Twilight

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Can you picture Jennifer Lawrence pining after Edward Cullen? Before she won that Oscar, she auditioned for the part of Bella Swan in the Twilight series, according to The Guardian. Lawrence took on the part of another young-adult heroine, Katniss Everdeen, and Kristen Stewart snagged the part of Bella. Looks like that decision worked out well for both of them.

3. Will Smith as Neo in The Matrix

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Independence Day, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: Will Smith is no stranger to iconic roles. But he turned down one movie that became a gigantic franchise. Smith said no to the role of Neo in The Matrix because he didn't quite grasp the movie universe. But he says it was the best decision in the long run. "I would have absolutely messed up The Matrix," he told Wired. "At that point I wasn't smart enough as an actor to let the movie be. Whereas Keanu was smart enough to just let it be."

4. Molly Ringwald as Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman

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The role of Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman skyrocketed Julia Roberts to stardom. But another icon almost played the part. In an "Ask Me Anything" Q&A on Reddit, Molly Ringwald said she recalls seeing an early script of the movie, which was then called $3,000. "The script was okay but I gotta say, Julia Roberts is what makes that movie," she said. "It was her part. Every actor hopes for a part that lets them shine like that."

5. Johnny Depp as Ferris Bueller in Ferris Bueller's Day Off

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It's hard to picture anyone but Matthew Broderick playing hooky around Chicago in Ferris Bueller's Day Off. While John Hughes reportedly had Broderick in mind the whole time, Johnny Depp was reportedly close to bringing an extra dose of cool to the role. Depp wasn't the only future megastar considered for the part: Jim Carrey, John Cusack, Tom Cruise, and Michael J. Fox were also in talks to star, but it was Broderick who won out in the end.

6. Pamela Anderson as Dana Scully in The X-Files

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Gillian Anderson kicked ass as paranormal investigator Dana Scully in The X-Files. But before she was cast, execs apparently wanted to go in a completely different direction—with Baywatch star Pamela Anderson. "They were looking for someone, bustier, taller, leggier than me," Gillian told London's The Times newspaper. But showrunner Chris Carter insisted on casting Gillian, and the chemistry between Mulder and Scully became one for the ages.

7. Katie Holmes as Buffy Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer

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Sarah Michelle Gellar spent seven seasons slaying vampires, but another teen star nearly snatched the role from her. Katie Holmes reportedly was offered the lead in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but turned it down so she could finish high school. She later signed on for Dawson's Creek, so there were clearly enough young-adult parts to go around.

8. Anne Hathaway as Tiffany Maxwell in Silver Linings Playbook

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In 2013, Anne Hathaway and Jennifer Lawrence both took home Oscars: Hathaway for Les Miserables and Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook. But both parts were originally slated for Hathaway. Producer Harvey Weinstein told Howard Stern that Hathaway had the role, but had to drop it due to "creative differences" with director David O. Russell. She was meant to star opposite Mark Wahlberg, who dropped out and made way for Bradley Cooper.